- Candle in the Wind -
Trying to Make a Statement
By the time Desire had rolled around, Cody had come to a conclusion about all the problems going on around him. They weren't his fault. As much as he hated to admit to himself, if he wasn't focused against Skarrphace and he lost the AW Tag Team Titles to him, there were going to be more problems than what he was currently dealing with. So when Desire rolled around, he and Tomorrow Man took it to Skarrphace as best as they could. They knew Skarrphace would take every advantage he could to turn the match more into his extreme style, and they counter acted that with their own rough play.
One thing they forgot, though, was how smart Skarrphace was. He didn't care about winning or losing matches. Control was what he wanted most. And when he aligned with `Live~wire' Sean Casey, it was obvious that he had put the ball in play. Four men that had built the defunct Global Fantasy Wrestling Alliance to a federation of dominance in 1999 - 2000 were now in a bitter feud with old complications. There will be no rest for anybody involved until one team or both are out of Advantage Wrestling for good. There isn't enough room for the 4 or them and that leaves no room for error as well.
-[ Tomorrow Man throws his duffel bag full of wrestling gear on his bed as he and Cody enter their motel room in Portland, Oregon. As the bag lands on the plywood-like mattress, Tomorrow Man winces in pain. He looks down at his left arm, which lays limp in a sling, and shakes his head. The thought of quitting while he still has an arm still hasn't entered his mind since the injury took place. He's too proud of a man to quit before the injury becomes career threatening. Advantage Wrestling's Tag Team Titles mean that much to him. Rather than just drop them due to injury, he presses on in pain with his good friend Cody Carmichael. ]-
-[ Cody isn't as sold on the idea of wrestling while injured as Tomorrow Man is. He doesn't quit as well but he finds this behavior as borderline lunacy. The AW Tag Team Titles don't mean crap because there isn't a division to really defend them in. So why risk a career threatening injury when the Tag Team Titles have little to no value in this federation? To top it off, Razor Blade has put Tomorrow Man in Tuesday night Rage's the main event against Big Poppa. One on one. So obviously Cody isn't thrilled about this week's bookings at all. Cody throws his duffle bag on the floor and walks over towards the television set to see what is on. ]-
Cody: You going to be all right?
-[ Tomorrow Man takes a seat on the uncomfortable mattress and starts to go through his bag with the only real good arm he has left. ]-
Tomorrow Man: Yeah, I'll tough it out.
-[ Cody turns the television off after surfing the 4 channels and finds absolutely nothing on. ]-
Cody: I'll be honest with you right now, I'm not really liking the whole idea of you facing Big Poppa.
Tomorrow Man: Hey, that's the booking. Not much I can do about it except go out there and win.
Cody: Be realistic, T-Man. You're going to be in the ring against a former Advantage Wrestling Heavyweight Champion. A man who many believe is the heart and soul of AW.
-[ Tomorrow Man takes out his AW Tag Team Championship and sets it on the bed next to him. He looks at the glimmering gold reflect in his eyes. ]-
Tomorrow Man: Thanks for the confidence booster, Cody.
Cody: Listen, all I'm saying is don't go out there Tuesday night and do something crazy.
Tomorrow Man: Why? Afraid I might take away some of your lime light?
-[ Cody shakes his head with a smirk. ]-
Cody: Easy there, buddy. I might get the most props out of the two of us, but I know I wouldn't be a 9 time tag team champion without you. You're match against Big Poppa shouldn't be booked, bro. We're Tag Team Champions and Razor Blade might lose us if you come out of that match worse than you already are.
Tomorrow Man: I understand that, Cody. But I also understand that this is MY statement match. I can make a statement by tangling with Big Poppa and being injured at the same time. I can hold my own against him and if I have a good showing on Rage, that will show some of my nay sayers that when I am 100%, I can beat Big Poppa if I have to.
Cody: Bah, who gives a crap about the critics? I know you can beat him and you know you can beat him, so why put it all on the line for a match that really has no future implications?
Tomorrow Man: I choose to keep going, injured or not. And at Rage, I will be careful but at the same time I will do everything in my power to win. And I'm not changing my mind.
-[ Cody looks away because he knows he can't change Tomorrow Man's mind but all hope isn't lost. He knows he'll have to talk to Razor Blade as soon as he can. ]-
Cody: All right. You go out there and wrestle your match. I'll keep Skarrphace and Casey in line while you do your thing.
Tomorrow Man: Sounds like a plan to me.
-[ Cody makes a fist with his right hand and punches his left palm with it. ]-
Cody: Damn straight. I can't wait to get a piece of those guys. They may have got the better of us at Desire but in the end, we'll have their number.
Tomorrow Man: We always do.
-[ Cody stands up from his bed and makes his way towards the door. ]-
Cody: Yep, we'll end this before Crossfire. That's for damn sure.
Tomorrow Man: Where are you going?
Cody: Out. There's nothing on TV. Besides, you need your rest for the match.
Tomorrow Man: All right. Stay out of trouble.
Cody: Then what's the point of going out?
-[ Cody grins as he reaches for the door handle. Tomorrow Man chuckles a little. ]-
Tomorrow Man: Get out of here.
Cody: Later!
-[ With that, Cody goes out the door and closes it behind him. Tomorrow Man sits on his bed and looks at the AW Tag Team Championship once again. It isn't long until he puts it back in his bag. Come Tuesday, he won't be a Tag Team Champion in his mind. Making people remember his gutsy performance will be, to quote Skarrphace, the only thing that matters. ]-
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